IFT_RFI.docx

Sources Sought for Initial Flight Training (IFT)

This is a Request For Information (RFI) in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.215-3 - Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997). Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Only United States companies will be considered for contract award.

Caution:

This market survey is being conducted to identify potential sources that may possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet the requirements for conducting IFT for AETC. The level of security clearance and amount of foreign participation in this requirement has not been determined. Contractors/Institutions responding to this market research are placed on notice that participation in this survey may not ensure participation in future solicitations or contract awards. The Government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation in this survey.

Introduction:

1. This request for information (RFI) includes a description of the IFT requirement and a Contractor Capability Survey, which allows you to provide your company’s capability.

2. If, after reviewing these documents, you desire to participate in the market research, you should provide documentation that supports your company’s capability in meeting these requirements. Failure to provide documentation may result in the Government being unable to adequately assess your capabilities. If you lack sufficient experience in a particular area, please provide details explaining how you would overcome the lack of experience/capabilities in order to perform that portion of the requirement (i.e., teaming, subcontracting, etc.)

3. Marketing materials are considered an insufficient response to this RFI. Please limit responses to no more than 15 pages, and identify a representative to support further Government inquiries and requests for clarification of the information provided, if needed. Respondents should indicate which portions of their responses are proprietary and should mark them accordingly.

4. Both large and small businesses are encouraged to participate in this Market Research. Joint ventures or teaming arrangements are encouraged.

5. The Government anticipates a Firm-Fixed-Price contract could come from these efforts. For purposes of this RFI, the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 611512, Flight Training, and the small business size standard is $27.5 Million in annual gross receipts.

Purpose:

1. We are conducting market research to determine:

a. What sources are capable of conducting the full range of operations associated with IFT (flying operations, academics, aircraft maintenance, billeting, dining, security, etc.).

b. Potential training locations.

c. What efficiencies can be gained through different approaches to all aspects of the IFT requirements.

Description: (for a more detailed description please reference the attached draft performance work statement (PWS) IFT is the first step in the Air Force Undergraduate Flying Training (UFT) process. IFT provides ground training and 10 sorties/13.8 hours (Combat Systems Officer (CSO) syllabus), 14 sorties/18 hours (pilot syllabus), and 27 sorties/39.3 hours (Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) syllabus) of flight instruction to students in preparation for Undergraduate CSO Training (UCSOT), Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT), and Undergraduate RPA raining (URT).

Initial Flight Training Program Objective:

The overall objective of the flying program is to enhance the IFT students’ ability to succeed in UFT by beginning the development of the student’s aviation skills and ability to learn in a UFT-like environment while motivating the students for aviation careers.

Student Load.

The student load may vary from 750 per year to 1950 per year for pilot, CSO and RPA candidates. Class sizes may vary from 30 to 100 students/class with 18 classes/year.

Contractor Requirements. The contractor will provide:

1. Support for the following required flying missions, to include but not limited to: IFT student training sorties, new hire training sorties, military flight instructor (MFI) flight check and check ride preparation sorties (initial and recurring flight checks should normally be flown as local student profile sorties), flight instructor Buddy IP, AETCI 11-219, Initial Flight Screening, and MFI continuation training (CT) required sorties. The Contractor is required to comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements under Code of Federal Regulations, Title 14, Part 61.

2. Identically configured / standardized types of aircraft to execute this contract. If the Contractor uses more than one type of aircraft, students shall be restricted to the type of aircraft in which they begin training. The minimum IFT aircraft specifications are listed in the draft IFT Performance Work Statement.

3. The academic portion of the IFT program to include the academic courseware/curriculums to support the IFT syllabuses.

4. Security or arrange to have security provided for all oncampus personnel, training facilities and aircraft.

5. Crash/fire/rescue/ ambulance or arrange to have crash/fire/rescue/ ambulance provided at the primary and auxiliary airfields.

6. Office space for the military personnel assigned to the 1 FTS.

7. Lodging and meal service, without charge to the students, while the students attend IFT.

8. Access, without charge to the students, to a running track or an open area with a running circuit, and access to a gym environment possessing both aerobic and weight training equipment. In accordance with training syllabus requirements, three to four hours per week will be allocated to supervised, physical conditioning.

9. A means to transport students between the training facilities and nearby airports that provide scheduled airline service.

10. Other requirements explained in the draft IFT PWS.

Note: IFT is an evolving program. Requirements identified in the PWS may require modification as the program changes. Changes may include adjustment of flight hours, mutually agreed upon changes to the workload estimates, student class sizes, certification requirements, changes to the Government provided syllabuses, and other modifications as necessary to ensure an effective flight training program.

Location: The training will be conducted at location(s) determined by the contractor.

Summary:

The Government intends on conducting an industry day. Information about industry day will be made available as plans are finalized.

It is the Government’s intention to identify sources that can meet the criteria listed above and in the PWS. All interested business concerns shall indicate interest in responding to this RFI by providing a completed Contractor Capability Survey (below) to 338 SCONS, Mr. Kevin Grant, kevin.grant.10@us.af.mil. NLT 4:00 pm CST on 7 February 2015. Any questions about this RFI need to be submitted NLT 9 January 2015.

NOTE: This RFI is for research purposes only, no decision to pursue an acquisition or identification of a contracting organization to be responsible for an acquisition has been made. This information is for market research only. This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP), solicitation or an indication that the Government will contract for this requirement. The Government will not pay for information received in response to this RFI and is in no way obligated by the information received.

CONTRACTOR CAPABILITY SURVEY

Initial Flight Training

Part I. Business Information

Please provide the following business information for your company/institution and for any teaming or joint venture partners:

· Company/Institute Name:

· Address:

· Point of Contact:

· CAGE Code:

· Phone Number:

· E-mail Address:

· Web Page URL:

· Size of business pursuant to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: Leave this blank BC will provide

CONTRACTOR CAPABILITY SURVEY(cont’d) Initial Flight Training

Part II. Capability Survey Questions

General Capability Questions:

1. Describe briefly the capabilities of your facility and the nature of the services you provide. Include a description of your staff composition and management structure.

2. Describe your company's past experience on previous projects similar in complexity to this requirement. Include contract numbers, a brief description of the work performed, period of performance, agency/organization supported, and individual point of contact

3. Describe your company's capabilities and experience in producing academic courseware and curriculums.

4. Describe your company’s capability to house and feed 2,000 people/year.

5. Describe your company’s capability to provide security to the forecast number of students, staff, aircraft, and facilities.

6. Describe your company’s capability to perform aircraft maintenance on required aircraft.

7. What is your company’s current maximum sortie and flying hour capacity per month?

8. Are there specific requirements in the documentation that we provide that would currently preclude your services from being a viable solution to our requirement?

9. What do you see as the biggest challenges to fulfilling the IFT contract?

10. What provisions of the PWS requirements would you change to improve the training or make the operation more efficient?

Specific Capability Questions:

1. Where would you base the operation? What primary and aux airfields would you use?

2. Do you currently own or lease the facilities you would propose (hangars, administrative offices, training classrooms, billeting, and dining)? If not, how do you intend to fulfill the facility requirements? What is or will be the general configuration/layout?

3. Which aircraft would you propose using? Would the aircraft be new or used? How many aircraft would you employ?

4. What will be your concept of ops for the flying training?

List of Abbreviations and Acronyms

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